Africa's tallest building set to open in Nairobi

Tuesday, 04 October 2016 10:56

Hilton is set to open Africa's tallest building in Nairobi, Kenya (Source: APO Newsroom)Hilton Worldwide has signed a management agreement with Jabavu Village Ltd to open a 330-metre high hotel complex – said to be Africa's tallest – in 2020

The Hilton Nairobi Upper Hill resort will boast 255 guest rooms, a large mixed use development including a residential, retail and entertainment complex, and adjacent office tower.

Facilities include a ballroom, meeting rooms covering 1,400sqm, an outdoor pool, spa and fitness areas, and an executive lounge.

Guests will be able to dine in five food and beverage outlets, including a poolside bar, speciality smokehouse and grill restuarant, a lobby dining area with landscaped deck, and a boutique rooftop bar with resplendent views of the Nairobi skyline.

At the African Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) held at the Radisson Blue Hotel & Convention Center in Kigali, Rwanda, 4-6 October, Hilton confirmed the construction of Africa's first modular built hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn in Accra.

The hotel firm also confirmed the opening of Curio, The Legend at Lagos Airport, for 2017.

Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton Worldwide said, "In recent years Upper Hill has grown to become a hub for international businesses and organisations, with a number of embassies and organisations setting up their regional offices in the district, including Cisco Systems, World Bank and the IMF.

"The striking new-build property will pierce the skyline of Upper Hill and will be well placed to meet this growing demand in one of Nairobi’s most exciting and colourful areas.”

The hotel opening will mark the 50th Hilton Hotels and Resorts property trading or under development in Africa, with the group primed to double its presence in Africa in the next three to five years from 39 hotels to more than 80, underpinning a strong focus on expansion in existing and new countries on the continent.

Investor sentiment in the sub-Saharan African hospitality segment remains upbeat despite economic headwinds, according to new research released by JLL today.

Speaking at AHIF, Xander Nijnens, senior vice-president, Hotels and Hospitality Group, JLL Sub-Saharan Africa said, "Our medium-term outlook for the hotel sector is positive and JLL forecasts demand growth of 3% to 5% per annum during the coming three years. From an investment perspective, we forecast $1.7 billion to be invested in hotels in sub-Saharan Africa in 2017 and a further $1.9 billion in 2018. The new supply pipeline continues to grow with greater efficiency in realising new developments as the sector matures”.